Boston Bruins Assign Noel Acciari To Providence And Frank Vatrano Nearing Return

The Boston Bruins Assign Noel Acciari to AHL Providence Bruins

Noel Acciari was assigned to Providence yesterday. This is good news for the Boston Bruins, this means that Acciari is nearing a return. Acciari is down there for conditioning purposes.

Acciari 24, played in 12 games this season and had two assists for two points. He has skated in a total of 31 games for the B’s over the past two seasons. He has tallied three assists. Before playing in Boston played down in Providence. While in Providence he appeared in 45 games during the 2015-26 season, he had 7 goals, 12 assists for 19 points, and a plus 12 rating.

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The quicker Acciari can come back the better off the Bruins will be. Acciari bring well needed grit to the team along with some speed and skill. Also I believe that Acciari is better than current fourth liner Jimmy Hayes who has been stuck in a rut ever since the Bruins acquired him for the Florida Panthers.

Acciari is the type of players that the things he brings to the team can not be tracked on the score sheet, if he gets a third assist or makes a great breakout pass that leads to a goal. I like Acciari better than Hayes, Acciari has more upside too.

Frank Vatrano started skating with the team

Frank “The Tank” Vatrano returned to the ice on Tuesday to practice with the team at Warrior Ice Arena. The East Longmeadow native wore a red no contact jersey at practice. We are all waiting to see what this kid can do.

Vatrano had surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left foot on September 26. The initial return timetable was set around Christmas time so he just about on track. Frank had a great camp and may have broken into the top 6. Now with Beleskey out, if he comes back soon he could placed on the wing of David Krejci‘s line. This means that Tim Schaller would be bumped down to the third line, even though he has played great since he got the bump up.

Vatrano played in 39 games with the B’s during the 2015-16 season and had 8 goals and 3 assists for 11 points, and 14 penalty minutes. If Vatrano can return he will just add another scoring touch to the team along with David Pastrnak who is having a breakout season.

Next: David Pastrnak continues to impress

The Bruins are home against the Colorado Avalanche tonight.